Career Timeline of Aaron Judge: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Aaron Judge, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Aaron Judge is a professional baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees. A six-time All-Star and two-time AL MVP, Judge holds the American League record for most home runs in a season with 62, surpassing Roger Maris's long-standing record. His impressive height of 6'7" and weight of 282 pounds make him one of the physically largest players in Major League Baseball.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1921: Babe Ruth's Home Run Record

In 1921, Babe Ruth set a significant home run record. Aaron Judge joined Ruth and others in MLB history to hit 55-plus home runs and steal 15-plus bases in a single season.

1997: Ken Griffey Jr. Joins Exclusive Club

In 1997, Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the players who had hit 55-plus home runs and steal 15-plus bases in a single season. Aaron Judge joined that club of players.

1998: Sammy Sosa Joins Exclusive Club

In 1998, Sammy Sosa was one of the players who had hit 55-plus home runs and steal 15-plus bases in a single season. Aaron Judge joined that club of players.

2007: Alex Rodriguez's Home Run Streak

In 2007, Alex Rodriguez had a home run streak from September 4–9, the longest by a Yankees player until Aaron Judge matched it.

2010: Drafted by the Athletics

In 2010, the Oakland Athletics selected Aaron Judge in the 31st round of the MLB draft, but he chose to attend Fresno State instead.

2011: Western Athletic Conference Title

In 2011, Aaron Judge was part of the Fresno State team that shared the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) regular-season title, won the WAC Tournament, and qualified for the 2011 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

July 2012: Joins Mountain West Conference

In July 2012, between Aaron Judge's sophomore and junior seasons, the Bulldogs joined the Mountain West Conference (MW).

2012: Yankees Strikeout Record

In 2012, Curtis Granderson set the Yankees record for strikeouts. Aaron Judge broke this record in 2017.

2013: Signed with the Yankees

In 2013, Aaron Judge was drafted by the Yankees in the first round of the MLB draft and signed with the team, receiving a $1.8 million signing bonus.

2013: Drafted by Yankees

In 2013, Aaron Judge was selected by the Yankees with the 32nd pick in the first round of the MLB draft after playing college baseball for the Fresno State Bulldogs.

2014: Under Armour Gear Endorsement

From 2014, Aaron Judge endorsed Under Armour gear until the 2018 season.

2014: Professional Debut

In 2014, Aaron Judge made his professional debut with the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League, later being promoted to the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League during the season.

2015: Rookie Strikeout Record

In 2015, Kris Bryant set the rookie record for strikeouts. Aaron Judge broke this record in 2017.

2015: Statcast Adoption

In 2015, Statcast was adopted. Exit velocity for Aaron Judge's home run on April 28, 2017 was measured by Statcast since it was adopted in 2015.

2015: Promotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

In 2015, after playing for the Trenton Thunder, Aaron Judge was promoted to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Class AAA International League in June and was chosen to represent the Yankees at the 2015 All-Star Futures Game.

August 13, 2016: MLB Debut and First Home Run

On August 13, 2016, Aaron Judge made his MLB debut, hitting a home run in his first at-bat against the Tampa Bay Rays. Another teammate, Tyler Austin, also hit a home run in his first MLB at-bat during the same game, marking a historic moment.

September 13, 2016: Season-Ending Injury

On September 13, 2016, Aaron Judge's debut season ended prematurely when he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a grade two right oblique strain after a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2016: Preference for Uniform Numbers

In 2016, Aaron Judge expressed a preference for uniform numbers 44 or 35, but was assigned the number 99 during spring training. He was unsure if he would switch if numbers 44 or 35 became available.

2016: Low Batting Average

In 2016, Aaron Judge had a batting average of .179.

2016: MLB Debut

In 2016, Aaron Judge made his MLB debut for the New York Yankees.

2016: International League All-Star Team Selection

In 2016, Aaron Judge was named to the International League All-Star Team, though he did not play in the 2016 Triple-A All-Star Game due to a knee sprain. He continued to play for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

May 15, 2017: Sports Illustrated Cover Appearance

On May 15, 2017, Aaron Judge appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the title "All Rise".

November 6, 2017: MLB The Show 18 Cover Athlete

On November 6, 2017, it was announced that Aaron Judge would be the cover athlete for MLB The Show 18.

2017: Postseason Record

Aaron Judge struck out 27 times in the 2017 postseason, setting a major league record at the time.

2017: Pepsi Endorsement Deal

After his 2017 rookie season, Aaron Judge signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Pepsi.

2017: Finished the 2017 regular season

In 2017, Aaron Judge finished the regular season with a .284/.422/.627 slash line, 154 hits, 52 home runs, 114 RBI, 127 walks, and nine stolen bases. He led the American League in home runs, runs scored (128), and walks (127).

2017: Awards and Honors

In 2017, Aaron Judge received several end-of-season awards, including selection to Baseball America's All-MLB Team, the Players Choice Award for Outstanding AL Rookie, a Silver Slugger Award, and being unanimously voted as the American League Rookie of the Year. He finished second in the voting for the AL MVP Award.

2017: AL Rookie of the Year

In 2017, Aaron Judge unanimously won the AL Rookie of the Year award and finished second in AL MVP voting.

2017: All-Star Game Selection

In 2017, Aaron Judge was voted as a starting outfielder for the MLB All-Star Game, receiving the most votes of any player in the AL.

2017: Home Run Derby Winner

In 2017, Aaron Judge won the Home Run Derby, becoming the first rookie to win the Derby outright.

August 9, 2018: Stanton Breaks Exit Velocity Record

On August 9, 2018, Giancarlo Stanton broke Aaron Judge's exit velocity record, launching a home run with an exit velocity of 121.7 miles per hour.

2018: Adidas Endorsement Deal

In 2018, Aaron Judge signed an endorsement deal with Adidas, after endorsing Under Armour gear from 2014.

2018: All-Star Game Selection and Home Run

In 2018, Aaron Judge was named a starting outfielder for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, where he hit a solo home run off Max Scherzer.

2019: Franchise Home Run Record

On September 8, Aaron Judge hit a home run over Fenway Park's Green Monster for the first time. With this home run, the 2019 Yankees set a new franchise record for most home runs in a single season as a team.

September 20, 2022: Judge Hits 60th Home Run

On September 20, 2022, Aaron Judge hit his 60th home run of the season against Wil Crowe of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium, becoming the third MLB player in AL history to reach that milestone and the fastest Yankee to do so in 147 games.

December 2022: Free Agency Negotiations

In December 2022, Aaron Judge negotiated with multiple teams during free agency before ultimately signing a nine-year, $360 million deal with the Yankees.

December 20, 2022: Signs Deal with Yankees, Named Captain

On December 20, 2022, Aaron Judge signed a nine-year, $360 million deal with the Yankees, breaking the record for the largest free agent deal in MLB history. The following day, he was named the 16th captain of the Yankees.

2022: First MVP Award

In 2022, Aaron Judge won his first MVP award after breaking the AL single-season home run record.

2022: Endorsement Deal Expiration

In 2022, Aaron Judge's endorsement deal with Adidas expired.

August 2023: Shoe Deal with Jordan Brand

In August 2023, Aaron Judge signed a shoe deal with Nike's Jordan Brand, becoming the fifth active MLB player to do so.

2023: "The 99 Burger" Introduction

For the 2023 season, Legends Hospitality at Yankee Stadium introduced "The 99 Burger", a California-inspired food item named after Aaron Judge's uniform number. Only 99 burgers are made for each home game.

January 2024: ALL RISE Foundation Gala

In January 2024, Aaron Judge's ALL RISE Foundation hosted an "All-Star Evening" gala on Wall Street, raising nearly $800,000 for youth programs in New York City. Patty Judge, Aaron's mother, serves as the executive director and President.

March 2024: Ralph Lauren Fragrance Deal

In March 2024, Aaron Judge was named the face of Ralph Lauren's new fragrance, "Polo Est. 67 Eau de Toilette", and its "Design Your Dreams" ad campaign.

RALPH LAUREN FRAGRANCES Polo 67 - Eau de Toilette - Cologne for Men - Woody & Solar Scent - With Pineapple, Bergamot, & Vetiver - 2.5 Fl Oz

Check it on Amazon

April 2024: Partnership with Prime Energy Drink

In April 2024, Aaron Judge partnered with Logan Paul and KSI's energy drink Prime.

2024: Second MVP Award and World Series Appearance

In 2024, Aaron Judge unanimously won his second MVP award, leading MLB in home runs as the Yankees made their first World Series appearance in 15 years.